3 Bible Verses That Reveal Reasons to Be Thankful

God’s Word helps us rejoice in God’s goodness and love

Thankfulness can sometimes feel like one of the Bible’s biggest mysteries.

We’re told to be thankful in all circumstances. But how can you be thankful when a loved one is struggling with cancer? Or when financial anxiety is threatening to crush you? Or when you lose your home and most of your belongings in a fire?

Can you really find a reason to be thankful no matter what you’re facing?

The Bible is our guide to understanding thankfulness. By looking at what Scripture says, we can discover reasons to be thankful that won’t change with our circumstances. And as we turn our eyes to God and his promises, we can rejoice in his goodness and love toward us.

Here are three Bible verses that reveal reasons to be thankful.

We can be thankful because God has given us the victory in Jesus.

Our thankfulness flows from the incredible gift God has given to us: salvation through Jesus Christ. Without Jesus’s perfect life, sacrificial death, and victorious resurrection, we would continue to suffer under the curse of sin and death without hope. Scripture tells us that while we will still face challenges in our broken world, Christ has already claimed the ultimate victory over every moment of pain, heartbreak, and grief we will experience (John 16:33). Thanks to Jesus’s victory, we can look forward with unshakeable hope to the day when God will restore all things (Revelation 21:3-4).

Death gets its power to hurt from sin, and sin gets its power from the Law. But thanks be to God who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ!

1 Corinthians 15:56-57 GNT

We can be thankful because it’s what God wants for us.

God only wants what is best for his children. Because he made us, he knows what our hearts are designed to do. We were made to serve and worship God (Ecclesiastes 12:13). But because of sin, our hearts have become perpetually self-focused. Selfishness only produces evil (James 3:16) and cannot bring us fulfilment, peace, or joy in our hearts. On the other hand, thankfulness breaks us out of our self-centeredness and refocuses our hearts on God’s goodness, love, and promises. When we are living in a spirit of thankfulness, we can experience true joy as we grow closer to our heavenly Father despite our circumstances.

Be joyful always, pray at all times, be thankful in all circumstances. This is what God wants from you in your life in union with Christ Jesus.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 GNT

We can be thankful because of who God is.

In the end, our thankfulness to God is directly related to who God is. He sent his only Son to save us because he is merciful and full of grace (Ephesians 2:4-5). He wants what is best for us because he cares for us (1 Peter 5:7). The more we learn about who God is through his Word, the more reasons we can find to express our genuine thanksgiving to him. Take time to meditate on his blessings in your life and praise him today!

Praise the LORD!
Give thanks to the LORD, because he is good;
his love is eternal.

Psalm 106:1 GNT

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Elisabeth Trefsgar
Elisabeth Trefsgar

Elisabeth Trefsgar is a content specialist for American Bible Society. She has made a home in New Jersey and Sofia, Bulgaria, and is always on the lookout for the next adventure. She is passionate about seeing communities around the world flourish through the power of God's Word and the efforts of the local church. When she isn't writing, you can find her reading good stories, photographing local sights, and spending time with friends.

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